Matt Rees, 22, won this year’s Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year Award, given out at Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival.

He follows in the footsteps of renowned winners Rhod Gilbert, Johnny Vegas and Josh Widdicombe.

The young stand-up has also now found out he is nominated for a Chortle comedy award, in the Best Newcomer category.

He has earned prestigious titles as the Loaded Laftas Rising Star award, the Leicester Square Theatre Best Newcomer award and the first gong to grace his mantelpiece – the Welsh Unsigned Stand Up Award.

Matt, from Cwmfelin, was nominated for this latest award, which he described as “the hardest one so far”, by comedy talent agency PBJ and performed a 10-minute set on the night.

He told the Gazette: “It went really well, and though before I was mainly known in Wales, I’m becoming more well-known in England now, picking up paid gigs in London.

“I’ve performed a gig every night for the past nine days and though I still live at home in Maesteg I’ve been on the go quite a lot.”

But Matt insists he’d never perform in his home town, nor would he let his family see him live.

“I’d never gig in Maesteg,” he said.

“There’s something satisfying about watching your peers fall flat on their face and I think if I did perform here, I wouldn’t do well.

“I’d never let my parents come and see me in case I have a rubbish gig.

“You can’t really rely on any audience to be good and I’d hate for the one time they see me to be a toughy.

“I still live at home but I don’t know if I’ll keep strong connections to the area. It’s a place where my house is. Which is nice. That’s it, really.”

Despite his success, Matt sadmitted he still suffers stage nerves but it has become part of his act, saying: “I was really nervous the first time I went on stage but it gets easier.

“I had to make it part of my act, and part of who I was as a comedian, with my lines really short and to the point.

“My delivery is quite detached, it’s a defence mechanism and it is my natural manner.”

Matt had intended to work on new material over Christmas, but focused on the Leicester competition – but now that’s out the way, he is actively writing with upcoming gigs at the Edinburgh Festival and Glee Clubs across Britain in mind.

“I don’t know about any more awards, I think I’ve cleaned up now,” he said.

The Welsh Unsigned Stand Up Award (WUSA), which Matt won last year, is currently entries for this year’s competition.

Prizes include £1,000 and the chance to perform at St David’s Hall and Cardiff Glee Club.